What are the principles of object-oriented programming?

Several programming paradigms exist today. Each allows for the development of different tools and solutions. Some are more widely used than others. Some can even be combined with other paradigms. Object-oriented programming is one such programming paradigm.

It is one of the most widely used in the field of software development. Indeed, object-oriented programming can be found in several different areas such as web programming, the development of various applications (mobile or desktop), and even in Big Data.

In this article, we will break down the principles of this paradigm so that you can get the necessary foundation to start using it!

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Object-oriented programming (OOP): what is it?

In object-oriented programming, there is the word "object." An object can define an entity possessing a state that can potentially be changed, and attributes that define it. It can also be a set of parts and processes leading to a result.

Let's take, for example, the case of a house. In order to obtain a habitable dwelling, you will need materials (bricks, cement, roofing, flooring, etc.). You will also have to go through several steps before reaching a result that is habitable (construction, finishing, etc.).

Object-oriented programming, often called OOP, follows this same logic. Indeed, it involves grouping each component (called attributes) and each procedure to be followed (called methods) into a single object called a class.

This practice offers several significant advantages when developing a program, such as its flexibility, maintainability, ease of understanding, and many others.

What are his interests in Big Data?

The concept of Big Data implies the processing of a large volume of data. In order to use this data for decision-making, this processing must be executed at a reasonable speed, or even as quickly as possible. The time between development and deployment of the related programs must be minimal. Object-oriented programming makes it possible to achieve this goal.

Indeed, OOP allows for the development of a clear and concise skeleton before the actual programming. It is easy to learn, scalable, and adaptable to many other projects imaginable in the future. Moreover, some languages ​​such as Java or Python, which are the most widely used languages ​​in the Big Data field, are essentially based on object-oriented programming.

It is also integrated into Big Data tools like Hadoop and Spark, hence the value of learning it if you want to enter this field. Certain methods, such as machine learning, are easier to implement with this programming paradigm.

Data scientists, data engineers, and data analysts are its primary users. However, learning object-oriented programming will undoubtedly be useful to you sooner or later, regardless of the position you aspire to in the world of big data.

Now you know what it is and you understand why you should be interested in it. Let's look at the basic principles of object-oriented programming .

Principle 1: Encapsulation

The principle of encapsulation is arguably the very foundation of object-oriented programming. It consists of grouping everything related to an object within a class. This therefore implies integrating each attribute and each method into a single location.

To interact with this object, you must implement it; that is, create an instance of this class and call its methods. This concept helps, among other things, to secure the code by preventing users from manipulating it directly.

Principle 2: Abstraction

As we explained, the attributes and methods of each class are only accessible when that class is called. You can further restrict this by applying the principle of abstraction.

Here, the aim is to hide all unnecessary functions from the user, that is, to prohibit the manipulation or processing of certain methods to a specific degree.

This translates to the use of `private` and `protected` when creating the class. Using one of these two prefixes restricts access to certain methods. These methods can only be manipulated within the class itself or in inherited classes (we'll discuss this shortly).

Principle 3: Inheritance

Inheritance involves integrating the methods and attributes of one class into another. The base class is called the parent class, and the inheriting class is called the child class. It's important to know that several classes can inherit from the same parent class; however, a child class can only have one parent class. This is manifested, among other things, by declaring an abstract class that acts as the parent class for a class using its methods.

This principle is advantageous because it significantly reduces the amount of code required, as the same class can be used in various scenarios. You simply need to adapt it to suit your needs. For example, you can add features and methods from the parent class to enhance your program.

Principle 4: Polymorphism

In object-oriented programming, it's possible to implement multiple methods with the same name. This concept is called polymorphism. Indeed, you can declare several functions with the same name, changing only their attributes or return values ​​to alter their behavior.

This principle is advantageous because it avoids code duplication, making the entire solution more streamlined and easier to maintain. Remember, the goal is to create a program that performs fast processing without sacrificing efficiency.

Principle 5: Interfaces

To avoid surprises along the way, during the development of your project, it would be wise to incorporate the concept of an interface into your practice. This principle involves creating classes with their respective methods, but leaving the methods themselves empty.

You're probably wondering what they're for in this case and how to use them?

In fact, they allow you to better visualize your program's architecture. This will prevent you from getting lost and ensure you adhere to the previously established guidelines. Indeed, for your program to function, you will need to implement all the methods within the interface.

It should be noted that a class can implement multiple interfaces, unlike abstract classes.

Principle 6: Static classes

A static class is a class that does not need to be instantiated to be usable. That is to say, you simply need to call its methods to get a response.

To give you a point of reference, most libraries are based on this principle. This also relates to the principle of abstraction, which, as a reminder, involves restricting access to certain code for users.

This concept is primarily used in mathematical or logical operations, as it does not change the current state of the entire program, much like functional programming. Its function remains to receive parameters and return results based on those parameters.